Japan’s fine world cup journey has come to an end. And a cruel end at that – losing in a penalty shoot out! After being the more adventurous and ambitious of the two teams, and having played the more attractive football, and having had most of the ball, the game ended all square at 0-0. You know what? It was the first time in the whole tournament I felt the nerves jangling. I felt on edge when we beat Slovenia, but Japan’s penalty shoot out had my heart pounding. Up until that moment the Japanese had been the better team. But sadly for the Blue Samurai, penalties are a game of Russian Roulette. Sadly Yuichi Komano’s kick shot upwards off the crossbar and the Paraguayans managed to convert all of their kicks, sending them through to the quarter finals.
As an England fan, having seen England lose penalty shoot outs to Germany in 1990 and 1996, Argentina in 1998, Portugal in 2004 and 2006, I can fully understand what it feels like! Its sucks donkey balls. Its an empty sinking feeling of utter despair. But it must be said that Japan won the moral victory! I was in a bar full of tourists from all of the world and as the game wore on the neutrals in there started to side with Japan. In the end the whole bar was supporting the hard working blues. Having won their first world cup game outside of the country (it won as a co-host in 2002) with impressive wins over Denmark and Cameroon and having progressed to the knock out rounds from a tough group, and having lost so narrowly, Japan has much to be proud of in the world cup and can go home with their heads high.
I’d happily invite the team to one of our shoots to blow their loads all over our starlets if they were to ask me. No kidding, I would! And I bet our girls would be totally up for that too! Team Japan, you have won new respect in the football arena and many new friends. We look forward to you coming back bolder and stronger in 4 years time!
Semen Simon